Less than 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan announced the formulation of Advisory Committee to set the modalities for a national dialogue headed by former senator, Femi Okuroumu, the presidency has released the names of other members of the committee.

A statement released by Secretary of the Government, Pius Anyim, named other members of the committee as former Ambassador to the United States, Prof. George Obiozor; eminent academician, Prof. Ben Nwabueze; former senators Khairat Gwadabe and Timothy Adudu; and Tony Nyiam, a retired Colonel.

Others are Prof. Funke Adebayo, Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Abubakar Sadiq, Dauda Birma, Buhari Bello, and Tony Uranta.

Akilu Indabawa, a former PDP youth leader, will serve as secretary of the committee.

The committee is expected to consult with stakeholders and draw up an agenda for the proposed national conference. It is also expected to make recommendations to the government on the structure, modalities and timeframe for the proposed national conference. The committee is also expected to make recommendations to the government on the determination of the various interest groups to be represented at the conference.

“When there are issues that constantly stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss,”Mr. Jonathan had said while announcing the formation of the committee during the Independence Day broadcast on Tuesday.

The committee will be inaugurated on October 7 at the State House. It is expected to come out with a report in 4 weeks.